Veikkausliiga April Review. HJK Helsinki & SJK Seinäjoki. Kansallinenliiga Kicks Off. Suomen Cup 3rd Round. Euro 2025 Qualifiers. Finns Overseas.

In this episode, Mark W, Keke & Ally are joined by Max from the No Niin It’s Jalkapallo blog. The team discuss the first month of action in the Veikkausliiga, as SJK make a strong start and HJK makes heavy work of their opening schedule. Max then talks us through the start of the women’s Kansallinenliiga, explaining the early rounds of games, league positions and the changes coming to the league in 2024.

They also look briefly at the 3rd round of the Suomen Cup (where the first batch of Veikkausliiga teams join the fun), look back at the recent Euro 2025 Qualifiers for the Helmarit (particularly the impressive 2-1 win over Italy and, finally, Keke runs us through the recent stories about Finnish players in overseas leagues. Continue reading Veikkausliiga April Review. HJK Helsinki & SJK Seinäjoki. Kansallinenliiga Kicks Off. Suomen Cup 3rd Round. Euro 2025 Qualifiers. Finns Overseas.

Veikkausliiga 2024 Preview

We cut it fine, but we got this out just in time for the big kick-off on Saturday 6.4.2024.

In this episode, Mark W and Keke get things started, before handing over to some FFS listeners who present their team’s chances in the league this year. Huge thanks to Farid, Max, Ally (you know him), Julian and Jamie – we literally couldn’t have done this without you all! 🙌🏼 Continue reading Veikkausliiga 2024 Preview

Nations League Opponents Confirmed – Huuhkajat To Play England! Finns Overseas. Recent Transfers.

New year, new format FFS. Shorter shows, but more regularly. Hopefully!

As the Veikkausliiga teams build up to the season starting, behind the scenes there’s plenty of action. In this episode, Mark W, Rich & Keke look at recent transfers for Veikkausliiga teams and players, as well as Finns moving around overseas. Then they look at the draw for 2024 Nations League, with the Huuhkajat drawn against England, Republic of Ireland and Greece. Continue reading Nations League Opponents Confirmed – Huuhkajat To Play England! Finns Overseas. Recent Transfers.

Helmarit Match Reports: Finland 3-0 Croatia & Croatia 0-2 Finland. Veikkausliiga Ends. HJK in Europa Conference Action. Managers On The Move.

Women’s Nations League 2023, Group B2, Games 3 & 4.

Mark W and Keke review the two most recent games for the Finland women’s national team, as the Helmarit steamrollered over Croatia, twice, home and away. A truly dominant home victory (just look at the match stats) was followed up by an equally dominant away performance. All of which leaves Finland on the cusp of winning group B2 and progressing into League A for the Euro 2025 qualifying campaign.

They round-up the Veikkausliiga playoffs for the final 2024 Europa Conference League place are now complete. With VPS Vaasa surprising no-one, as they won their final two games against Honka, to secure their return to European action next year. They also throw forward to the remaining games for HJK Helsinki in the 2023 Europa Conference League. Finally, no sooner has the season ended, then the managerial merry-go-round cranks into gear… Continue reading Helmarit Match Reports: Finland 3-0 Croatia & Croatia 0-2 Finland. Veikkausliiga Ends. HJK in Europa Conference Action. Managers On The Move.

Suomen Cup Final Honka 1-2 Ilves with Ilves Fan – Jamie and KuPS 5-0 HJK. Plus Veikkausliiga Update

Mark W chats to Ilves fan Jamie about his day out at the men’s Suomen Cup final, as Ilves beat Honka 2-1 to win the trophy and salvage what was shaping-up to be a poor season. In the women’s Suomen Cup final, KuPS beat HJK 5-0.

Mark & Jamie also talk about the recent round of Veikkausliiga games and how the Haastajasarja has helped Ilves find the form they needed to win the cup and qualify for Europe, which sets Ilves up perfectly for the opening of their new stadium in 2024. Continue reading Suomen Cup Final Honka 1-2 Ilves with Ilves Fan – Jamie and KuPS 5-0 HJK. Plus Veikkausliiga Update

Helmarit Match Reports: Finland 4-0 Slovakia & Romania 0-1 Finland. Veikkausliiga Update plus VPS Fan, Ville

Women’s Nations League 2023, Group B2, Games 1 & 2.

Mark W and Rich look back at Finland’s two recent games in the Women’s Nations League, as the Helmarit took maximum points from Slovakia and Romania. A relatively straightforward 4-0 home win, followed by a battle against heat, humidty and Romania, played on a soft, freshly-ploughed field!

They also look at the second round of matches in the Veikkausliiga Mestarus- and Haastaja- series: As VPS Vaasa continue to brush aside all challengers, we speak with Vepsu fan, Ville, to find out how they have succeeded in equalling the league’s record for consecutive wins, which is currently 12 (and counting!) Continue reading Helmarit Match Reports: Finland 4-0 Slovakia & Romania 0-1 Finland. Veikkausliiga Update plus VPS Fan, Ville

[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Veikkausliiga about to split, HJK into Europa Conference, Managerial Changes, Suomen Cup

We’re fast approaching the business end of the season, when the Veikkausliiga splits into the Mestaruussarja (Champions series) and the Haastajasrja (Challenger series). So Mark W & Rich take a detailed look at the recent Veikkausliiga action, including WTF have they put in the water in Vaasa? And who has tampered with the lasagne in Seinäjoki?

They previously discussed the Finnish clubs in European action and take another look at HJK Helsinki’s annual tour of all three competitions! They also cover the final stages of the Suomen Cup, before ending with a Kekeless round-up of transfers for Finnish players in Finns Overseas.

Continue reading “[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Veikkausliiga about to split, HJK into Europa Conference, Managerial Changes, Suomen Cup”

[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Champions League, Europa Conference, Veikkausliiga update, Robert Taylor & Leo Messi

After the recent fun of watching the Huuhkajat score a hatful of goals, the team is back to look at the recent action for the Finnish club sides. Mark W, Keke, Ally & Rich start by looking at the early rounds of European action, with HJK progressing in the Champions League, and KuPS, Haka & Honka in Europa Conference action.

Talk then turns to the domestic scene and Mark & Ally lock horns (gently!) to look forward to the big SJK vs HJK match this coming weekend. The Veikkausliiga discussion includes the consistency of SJK, the indifferent form of KuPS and HJK, the continued progress of AC Oulu and the stunning recent form of VPS Vaasa – 5 wins in 5 🙌🏼

The show ends with Keke’s round-up of Finns overseas which, of course, starts with the impact of Leo Messi at Inter Miami, where Finland’s Robert Taylor’s great form is making Messi look like a star!

Continue reading “[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Champions League, Europa Conference, Veikkausliiga update, Robert Taylor & Leo Messi”

[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Veikkausliiga Update, SJK Seinäjoki On Top, Suomen Cup Round 4

The main series of the Veikkausliiga season is now at the 30% stage, so Mark W and Rich focus mostly on that in this episode. Who are the slightly-surprising, new league leaders? Who are already struggling to keep up? And who are striving for mid-table safety?

To answer these questions, they are joined by Ally and listener, Jamie, who talk about their teams, HJK Helskinki and Ilves. They also look at the Suomen Cup now heading into round 5, and Mark W shares his 2023 Suomen Cup experiences; 4 games, 4 home defeats!

Continue reading “[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Veikkausliiga Update, SJK Seinäjoki On Top, Suomen Cup Round 4”